Jaunted

Airlines

No More Leaving the Ticket at Home

May 13, 2008 at 9:00 AM | 0 Comments

It's been a while since we've held a real, paper ticket for a flight, but they do still exist... for the next couple of weeks, anyway. The industry's given themselves until June 1, 2008, to change over to completely paperless tickets.

Estimates are that around 90 percent of plane tickets are issued electronically at the moment, and that might not change too much before the deadline. Routes where they're having trouble changing over include some to China, Vietnam, India, Africa and South America, and bringing a baby along on an e-ticket is also still problematic; some round-the-world routes are also only issued on paper.

All hail the paperless ticket world, we say, not just because we like trees but also because it's much harder to leave an electronic ticket at home. We're gunning for paperless passports and baggage-less baggage, too.

Related Stories:
· Airlines Face Problems Meeting Paperless Tickets Deadline [eTravel]
· Travel Technology coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: zhaffsky]

Websites

Travel Tech: Google Docs Going Wireless

April 1, 2008 at 11:51 AM | 0 Comments

We'd be lost without Google Docs. From piecing together itineraries to storing flight times and phone numbers, it's a central part of our non-stop trip planning.

The only bad part is that you have to be online to use it. Well, that was the bad part. Starting today, the Google overlords will be rolling out offline access to some lucky users. (It should be out for everyone by mid-month.)

The tech stuff that makes it work is actually pretty interesting, at least to web dorks like us. But more importantly, you'll now be able to access your stuff while stuck at an airport that still doesn't have free WiFi.

Related Stories:
· Bringing the Cloud with You [Google Docs Blog]
· Websites coverage [Jaunted]

Technology

Zagat Guides On Your Phone, On Your Facebook

November 16, 2007 at 12:45 PM | 0 Comments

We went by the office of the Zagat guides yesterday for a little chat with Tim and Nina--more on that next week--and they reminded us about their new mobile service, which debuted this summer. Just point your web-enabled phone or BlackBerry to Zagat.mobi and get more restaurant reviews than you'll know what to do with.

Once you've got the page up, you can search by neighborhood, cuisine or new openings. We like the "SMS to Friend" feature, which we imagine would make meeting up with pals much easier. And since the service is ad-supported, it's free.

Zagat is also cracking Facebook with a new application for nightlife spots and restaurants that have pages on the social network. Once they're approved by the survey, businesses can drop the widget on their Facebook page and see it constantly updated with the latest, imminently quotable reviews.

Related Stories:
· If It's Not NOLA, Zagat May Not Like It [Jaunted]
· Facebook coverage [Jaunted]
· Technology coverage [Jaunted]

Luggage

The Suitcase You Can't Lose

November 16, 2007 at 9:30 AM | 0 Comments

Russian inventors have finally solved the problem of the heavy, unwieldy suitcase. They have produced the first smart suitcase that will follow the owner through the airport. (They're still working on the photo of it.)

The tech geeks at Robotronic have been more into robotic dogs and dinosaurs in the past, but have finally put their minds to something useful. The $2,000 suitcase, due to come on the market late next year, uses a gyroscope, light detectors, ultrasound and infrared sensors to make its way around obstacles and can follow you around for up to two hours.

If this were a really smart suitcase, it would follow its owner onto the plane rather than getting itself stowed in the baggage hold--especially if it's a British Airways flight, the only airline with the ability to lose 358,000 bags in three months.

Related Stories:
· Robot Suitcase Invented in Russia [Russia IC]
· Another Bad Day for BA [Jaunted]

[Photo: robotronic.ru]

Travel Tech

Momondo Has The Best Fares for Flights

October 18, 2007 at 9:30 AM | 2 Comments

While most websites can't track your flight, we know a few booking aggregators that can find you great deals. At least, we thought they could. The Andy Rooney of the travel world, Arthur Frommer, recently tried a Danish site, Momondo.com, and he says it's the best.

Frommer plugged in searches for three flights--a trans-con, a trans-Atlantic and an intra-Europe--and was wowed with Momondo's work:

I won't bore you with every pricing detail, but suffice it to say, the little Danish-based Momondo was the clear winner every single time, finding fares that ranged from 20 percent to 40 percent cheaper than the next-closest results.

Leave it to the Danish to come up with something cool that also works like a dream. Momondo tops other sites like Kayak, Mobissimo and FareCompare by searching an even broader range of airfare vendors. The one caveat with all that is to always check the airline website--you never know when a secret sale could be on.

Related Stories:
· Momondo.com [Official Site]
· Danish-based Search Engine Has The Best Fares [Houston Chronicle]
· Most Websites Can't Track Your Flight [Jaunted]

Travel Tech

Most Websites Can't Track Your Flight

October 9, 2007 at 4:15 PM | 0 Comments

When you see this, only one website can get you accurate, updated info.

Tracking your flight online is hardly news, but the Wall Street Journal recently took the time to test out all those services. Sadly, what they found wasn't any more impressive than the latest on-time numbers we've been crying over.

For significantly delayed flights--or those that push back from the gate but get stuck on the taxiway--most online services don't cut it. The Journal found a tough flight to track (AirTran 1699, that took off very late on Wednesday) and plugged it into some sites to see what happened:

FlightView.com...was less than helpful: It listed the flight's status as "Call Airline"...FlyteComm.com knew something wasn't quite right: It listed the flight's current altitude as zero and its current speed as zero, but still showed it arriving on-time. FlightArrivals.com correctly figured out that the plane had not yet departed...FlightAware.com and FlightExplorer.com couldn't find the flight.

So where should we turn for answers?

The most useful source of more information was at FlightStats.com, which collects data from airlines, airports and the Federal Aviation Administration and sends frequent updates.

We'd have to agree because we adore FlightStats both for on-the-road info and planning purposes. One of our fave things about it is historical data, which helps when picking flights. If it's down to one or two flights from our origin to destination--and they're about the same price--we'll almost always take the one with the higher percentage of on-time arrivals.

Related Stories:
· Some Flight-Status Alerts Aren't So Alert [WSJ]
· FlightStats [Official Site]
· Technology coverage [Jaunted]
· The Westin Boston Waterfront Tracks Your Flights [HotelChatter]

Technology

Adventures of Link: More Travel Tech

October 2, 2007 at 5:05 PM | 0 Comments

It's only Tuesday, and we've already heard about plenty of new travel technology. It seems like the more we get used to toting gizmos and gadgets with us on the road, the more we want them to do stuff for us.

While the TSA is testing a new wave of advanced security equipment (none of which will let you skirt the 3-1-1 rules), biz travelers may start meeting via teleconference more than they're used to. And JetBlue is jumping on the cashless cabin bandwagon.

Here's the latest:
· American and Continental Now Let You Change Flights Online [WSJ]
· JetBlue Cabin to go Cashless Nov. 1 [CNN]
· Westin Boston Waterfront Tracks Your Flights [HotelChatter]
· Kayak Makes Searching for Weekend Trips Easier [Official Site]
· Teleconferencing Could Be Back [NYT]

[Photo: Tom Tingle, The Arizona Republic]

Technology

iPod Audio Tours Taking Over New York

October 1, 2007 at 4:31 PM | 0 Comments

True, podcasts and narrated tours have been on the travel radar for awhile now. But it would take more patience than we have on an average vacation to listen to all of them, good and bad. Fortunately, New York Times writer Seth Kugel digs up gems for a living and found some of the best podcast tours of the Big Apple.

He's particularly fond of a series called Soundwalk, with its multiple tours of the city's neighborhoods. The Chinatown walking tour is particularly cool:

Jami Gong, activist, comedian and Chinatown native, leads you on a refreshingly disorienting jaunt to semihidden shops, into alleys and through Doyers Street, a jagged block no Chinatown visitor should miss but most do.

He'll guide you into a teahouse and tell you to look for the owner, Mr. Wong, reading the newspaper. "He's been sitting there and reading the newspaper forever," Mr. Gong says into your ear. And there's Mr. Wong reading the newspaper in front of your eyes.

We also have to mention the MoMA Audio Guides that Seth name checks, too. Created by college students tired of wonky art museum audio guides, you'll be chuckling while learning about modern art with these tours. And iPod's a lot easier to listen to in the museum than your cell phone.

Related Stories:
· Soundwalk [Official Site]
· MoMA Audio Guides [Official Site]
· Your Ear Can Be Your Guide [NYT]
· Podcast Tour of San Francisco, Sans Segway [Jaunted]

[Photo: Zengame]

Technology

Adventures of Link: Technology Taking Over

September 27, 2007 at 5:40 PM | 0 Comments

Usually when we talk about technology and travel, it's got something to do with in-flight WiFi or how many channels we can watch on our miniature TV. But there's a lot shaking in the travel tech world, including the imminent kiosk-ing of just about every check-in you can imagine.

Sea-Tac is getting rid of most of its ticket counters to put in kiosks, and rental car companies have realized that doing the same is a good idea. Lots of people think kiosks are a pain and aren't "customer service," but we don't really need someone to hold our hand at the airport. We're cool with clicking and texting, and we love anything that lowers the hassle factor in travel.

More on travel tech:
· Tech Shows Up Everywhere [USA Today]
· Seattle Airport Swaps Counters for Kiosks [NPR]
· Tech Traveler's Fingers Do the Walking [USA Today]
· JetBlue Announcing Fare Sales Through Twitter [Twitter]
· TripIt Has Tools to Ease Your Trip [Official Site]

Bars

A London Bar That Reads Your Mind

September 13, 2007 at 9:30 AM | 0 Comments

A pretty amazing new bar, twenty four:london, opened in London last week, but it looks to be a fairly exclusive club: it's members-only for now, but guests of members should be getting in soon.

twenty four:london is no ordinary bar. It cost £1 million ($2 million) to put together and boasts it can "transport drinkers anywhere in the world". Giant video screens cover the walls and bar with projections constantly changing--one minute you think you're in Egypt, the next you're in the middle of an interactive, virtual aquarium.

Heat sensors on the bar which means a virtual flower will grow wherever you touch. And when you put your empty glass on the bar, sensors scan its rim and detect what kind of drink it is, making "I'll have another" a much easier process. As the promo material says, "This is Star Trek and Star Wars all rolled into one, with waitress service."

Related Stories:
· twenty four:london [Official Site]
· See the World Without Moving From the Bar [ThisIsLondon]
· Travel Stories in London [Jaunted]